DEFENSE COMMUNITIES 360

Army Troop Cuts to Result in Involuntary Separations

To slash its end strength by 72,000 soldiers, the Army will be forced to discharge up to 29,000 personnel involuntarily, Thomas Lamont, assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, told the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee Wednesday.

Between 23,000 and 24,000 enlisted personnel would be asked to leave involuntarily, and between 4,000 and 5,000 officers would be forced out, reported CQ Today. The Pentagon proposed reducing the size of the Army from 562,000 to 490,000 by fiscal 2017 in its most recent budget request.

As the officials continues to look for ways to cut spending, the Army may decide to shift more of its capability to reserve forces, Lamont said.